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Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Mats – State of the Market Report 2011 Part 2: Test Results and Mini-Reviews
Why use an airmat instead of a slab of foam? Two reasons: an airmat is thicker and more comfortable, and an airmat has a higher insulation rating or R-value, to protect you from the cold underneath. But you don't want excess weight, so this survey is restricted to airmats weighing less than 400 g (14 oz) for summer use and 800 g (28 oz) for winter use. In Part 1 we looked at the sort of properties we might want in an airmat; in this Part 2 we look at actual airmats.
Big Agnes Insulated Air Core and Big Agnes Clearview Mats
Mini-review for the 2011 Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Pads State of the Market Report
Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Mat and Generic EVA30 Foam Mat
Mini-review for the 2011 Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Pads State of the Market Report
Exped DownMat Pump 7, Exped SynMat UL 7 S Mats
Mini-review for the Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Mats State of the Market Report 2011
Kooka Bay GoosePad, Kooka Bay Synthetic Insulated and Kooka Bay TaperLite Mats
Mini-review for the Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Mats State of the Market Report 2011
Mammut Light Pump Mat
Mini-review for the 2011 Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Pads State of the Market Report
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir, Therm-a-Rest ProLite, and Therm-a-Rest Deluxe LE Mats
Mini-review for the 2011 Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Pads State of the Market Report
MontBell UL 90 and MontBell UL 120 Mats
Mini-review for the Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Mats State of the Market Report 2011
Stephensons Warmlite Down Air Mat
Mini-review for the 2011 Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Pads State of the Market Report
Vaude Norrsken Insulated Mat
Mini-review for the 2011 Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Pads State of the Market Report
POE Ether Elite 2/3 and POE Peak Oyl Elite Mats
Mini-review for the Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Mats State of the Market Report 2011
Nemo Zor Short and Nemo Zor Regular
Mini-review for the Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Mats State of the Market Report 2011
Klymit X Frame Mat
Mini-review for the 2011 Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Pads State of the Market Report
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2011 – Part 1: Lightweight Shelters and Sleep Gear
We found lots of new lightweight shelters and sleep gear this time. We present them together in this article so you can compare them more easily. Doing so brings out some realizations regarding weight, roominess, and cost.
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2011 – Part 2: Lightweight Backpacks, Stoves, and Accessories
OR delivers a fresh crop of lightweight, innovative, and useful gear.
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2011 – Part 3: Lightweight Apparel and Hiking Footwear
We sorted through tons of apparel and footwear to find the lightweight standouts suitable for hiking and backpacking.
Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2011 – Part 4: Technical Watches, Minimalist Footwear, and Family Gear
For those who like less on their feet, OR didn't disappoint. For those who like more on their wrist, OR didn't disappoint in that area either. And for those who venture in the outdoors as a family, there were a few nuggets worth noting.
Lightweight Inflatable Sleeping Airmats – State of the Market 2011
Part 1: Important Factors When Choosing an Airmat
Why use an airmat instead of a closed-cell foam pad? Lightweight airmats that rival a closed-cell foam pad in weight now exist, so you don't need to carry extra weight to get good comfort anymore. This survey is restricted to airmats weighing less than 400 g (14 oz) for summer use and 800 g (28 oz) for winter use.
Minimalist Footwear for Fall/Spring Backpacking
The second in a series exploring the use of minimalist footwear for backpacking, Damien explores what works when summer is gone. Keeping your feet warm in barely-there shoes is no mean - ahem - feat.
Lightweight Frameless Backpacks State of the Market Report 2011: Part 4 – Packs for Lightweight Backpacking and Load Hauling
For lightweight backpacking, how does a larger volume frameless backpack compare with a lightweight internal frame backpack? We address that question, provide specifications and ratings, and identify the standouts among 10 larger volume frameless packs. Plus we pick the best packs for "Sherpa duty."
